Tag Archives: graphic novel

Getting It Together

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Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534317765
Price: $14.99
Genre: Romance
Ages: 16+

On Sale: March 30, 2021

Marvel Comics and GLAAD nominated award Iceman writer SINA GRACE and co-creator OMAR SPAHI deliver the all-new modern dramedy you didn’t know you needed! Sam and Jack are best friends, and Sam is dating Lauren, Jack’s indie rocker sister and roommate. Tensions skyrocket when Sam and Lauren open up their long-term relationship, sending social shockwaves through their friend group and the entire Bay Area, leaving poor Jack caught in the middle! Life gets pretty messy when you’re in your 20s and your friends are your family. Newcomer artist JENNY D. FINE shines in this series about love, friendship an rock n’ roll!

Collects GETTING IT TOGETHER #1-4.

Key Selling Points

Creator Bio(s)

Advanced Praise

  • A fresh, contemporary take on popular twenty-something/found-family dramedies like FRIENDS and QUEER AS FOLK.

  • Perfect for fans of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me

  • LGBTQIA+, humor/drama set in the Bay Area, California

  • Both Spahi and Grace have huge reach within their individual networks and will be supporting the promotional efforts at Image heavily. Spahi to his dedicated listeners on his popular Dreamers podcast for which he is host and producer. Grace through his many close connections made in the comics and entertainment industry

  • The popular ’90s sitcom FRIENDS has recently received a slew of blowback for its lack of diversity and homophobic quips-this new series offers the perfect answer to the beloved 20s something ensemble story, but set in a contemporary time

SINA GRACE has worn many hats in his many years in comics but is mainly known for his work as a writer, artist, and general gal about town.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Grace got his start making comics as early as high school, when he worked as an editorial intern at Top Cow Productions and spent weekends working the register at Hi De Ho Comics in Santa Monica. From there, he split his time attending University of California, Santa Cruz and self-publishing zines, mini-comics, and his first-ever series, Books with Pictures.

From there, Grace entered the harsh world of fashion retail while continuing his pursuits in comics and illustration. During this time, he released the new-noir urban fantasy, Cedric Hollows in Dial M for Magic, illustrated the all-ages book Among the Ghosts for Amber Benson, and began a decade-long collaboration with Shaun Steven Struble on the webcomic The Li’l Depressed Boy (which would later be published by Image Comics). Grace’s life would change dramatically when getting an email about getting into editing comics. Read more here.

“Pitched toward the audience for relationship drama/comedies that made last year’s Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me into a hit.” — The Hollywood Reporter

“Delivers love and heartbreak for the social media age.” — Comic Book Resources

“A comic that will absolutely give you your money’s worth.”
ComicBook.com

“This comic ‘sitcom’ brings the tropes while still delivering great emotions and character development.” AiPT! Comics

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Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew

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Published by Dynamite

ISBN: 9781524119140
Price: $19.99
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Ages: 13+

On Sale: March 23, 2021

Teen detectives Frank and Joe Hardy have investigated many crimes in their lives, but nothing that hits this close to home. Their best friend died mysteriously after taking down a major crime organization. They must put together the clues to uncover the truth about this shocking crime, but the clues lead them to a stunningly unexpected direction!

Key Selling Points

Advanced Praise

  • Written by Ringo-nominated writer Anthony Del Col (Kill Shakespeare, Luke Cage) and with art by Eisner-award winner Joe Eisma (Morning Glories, Riverdale), this gritty and stylish story is a noir that will attract fans of Nancy Drew of all ages.
 

BOOKLIST — It’s time to dig out your flashlight and put on your best sleuth hat because there’s mystery afoot! Del Col, known for re-imagining classics, is back with another mystery set in his take on the world of Nancy Drew. After uncovering the crime organization known as “the Syndicate,” Nancy Drew is forced off a bridge in her car by an unknown assailant. Joe Hardy can’t seem to let the case go and persists in looking into her death. He visits River Heights, the town Nancy lived in, and uncovers clues leading him to his brother Frank and a web of lies and deceit. At times the story weaves a thrilling mystery leaving the reader in suspense, though elsewhere is can be somewhat predictable. The straightforward artwork is simple, yet it gives a subtle elegance to these classic characters. Fans both new and old will find this book enjoyable, but librarians should be aware that it isn’t quite as tame as the classic novels. Readers who appreciate updated takes on classic comics should also get a kick out of this. 

– Jonathan Khan

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL — Gr 8 Up-Someone wants Nancy Drew dead, and the only person who can finger the killer is Nancy herself-with a little help from her friends, of course. This volume collects all six issues of the series, continuing the story begun in Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie, in which sleuths Nancy, Joe, and Frank uncovered a dangerous crime ring in Bayport. Now the remnants of the Syndicate are hungry for revenge and on Nancy’s tail. Her assailants make an attempt on her life and believe themselves successful; Nancy decides to play dead to shake her pursuers. Joe Hardy, initially fooled and heartbroken, is shocked to discover Nancy in her hometown of River Heights, lying low and already in cahoots with his brother, Frank, as she hunts for her own murderers. They join forces once again, and their investigations take them down dark, dangerous, and satisfyingly twisty roads that lead them to question everything and everyone from the corrupt local police department to their own families and some of their oldest, dearest friends. Full-color illustrations depart from the vintage style of The Big Lie for a more modern noir comic feel that suits the story well. The characters are portrayed close to their classic depictions-Joe has pale skin and blond hair, Frank is a little more tan and brown-haired, and Nancy has light skin, with a red dye job to help mask her identity.

VERDICT A surefire recommendation for fans of the latest comics revival as well as the classic chapter books. Purchase alongside The Big Lie wherever adventure mysteries are in demand.

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Storm Kids: Grimms Town Terror Tales Rise of the Candy Creeper

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Published by Storm King Productions

ISBN: 9781733282161
Price: $19.99
Genre: Horror
Ages: 9+

On Sale: February 23, 2021

In this spine-tingling tale of mystery and adventure, Hansel & Gretel must face off against the nefarious Hildaga Vontrix, a devious witch that commands a legion of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins. Hansel & Gretel’s tale begins when they return home to find their family’s home ransacked and their parents are missing. They soon find their way into a hidden liar under the family house where they discover their mother and father have been leading a secret double life, as suburban parents by day and heroic monster hunters by night; a family tradition dating back hundreds of years.

Hansel & Gretel must now pick up where their parents left off and rise to become the new protectors of Grimms Town. Armed with an awesome array of techno-magical weapons designed for paranormal butt-kicking kicking (technological devices fueled by magical energy), coupled the mysterious ability to control a mystical element called terramana, they will embark upon a heroic adventure to find their missing parents. Along the way they learn of a secret family curse that gives them the power to fight evil, but also puts them in danger of becoming evil themselves. With the help of their whimsically-weird Aunt Zoe and a goblin called Grubb that’s about as fierce as a puppy, they will fight to protect Grimms Town from the many creepy and dreadful things that go bump in the night.

The Grimms Town Terror Tales combines the suspenseful intrigue of Stranger Things with the zany ghoul-capturing antics of Ghostbusters. With a mix of humor and spine-tingling terror, these tales are sure to captivate readers both young and old alike.

Key Selling Points

  • This is the first Middle Grade comic from the new John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids line, introducing horror, fantasy and science fiction to young audiences.

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Manga Classics: Othello

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Published by Manga Classics

ISBN: HC – 9781947808133/SC – 9781947808140
Price: HC – $24.99/SC – $19.99
Genre: Literary Adaptation, Horror
Ages: 13+

On Sale: May 25, 2021

A brilliant general in the service of Venice, Othello is also the new husband of the adoring – and young – Desdemona, whose innocent hero worship has blossomed into love. But can a beautiful girl, so much younger than her husband, truly be faithful? Othello’s trusted ensign Iago seems to think not.

Can Othello trust him? Can Othello trust anyone? Manga Classics presents Shakespeare’s classic story of love, hate, vengeance, and betrayal, in its full, original glory!

This volume features the complete, unabridged text from the Shakespeare Play.

Creator Bio(s)

CRYSTAL S. CHAN is an award-winning author and television screen play writer. Â She holds a degree in language and literature. Crystal is a huge fan of authors such as Jane Austen and she is equally passionate about Sailor Moon. Her passion for classic literature combined with her love of the comics medium allows her to strike a solid balance between preserving the depth of the original content while adapting the language for a younger generation

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Inkblot

1

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318243
Price: $9.99
Genre: Fantasy
Ages: 13+

On Sale: April 13, 2021

A powerful sorceress must attempt to correct her greatest mistake–the creation of a magical cat which can travel through time, space, and the seven realms of reality. The cat threatens to unravel the fabric of the universe, doesn’t care, and just won’t listen!


Collects INKBLOT #1-6

Key Selling Points

  • This is Emma Kubert’s first creator-owned comic, yet she’s already a household name and comics royalty. A third generation comics artist, she’s the granddaughter of comic artist Joe Kubert (of The Kubert School), daughter of comic artist Andy Kubert, and niece of comic artist Adam Kubert.

  • Family connections aside, Emma’s just an incredible storyteller in her own right and has freelanced for DC Entertainment, Dynamite Entertainment, and 20th Century Fox. She’s also penciled, inked and colored for DC Entertainments’ DC Superhero Girls and Teen Titans Go!, and drew layouts for the company’s young adult graphic novel Raven which was wildly popular.

  • Rusty Gladd graduated alongside Emma from the Kubert School and has done some DC freelancing, but is otherwise making his debut comic.

  • Handsell anyone who enjoys Kelly Thompson & Veronica Fish’s SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH or MIDDLEWEST, or fans of high fantasy comics like ROSE or RAT QUEENS

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Lonely Receiver (jan 2021)

1

Published by AfterShock Comics

ISBN: 9781949028577
Price: $16.99
Genre: Horror
Ages: 16+

On Sale: April 20, 2021

A Horror/Breakup Story in Five Parts

Catrin Vander, a lonely video producer, buys an Artificial Intelligence partner that’s meant to bond for life. After ten years together, her holographic wife suddenly disconnects without a warning. The breakup drives Catrin to the point of near insanity. She’s alone for the first time in years and reeling from a loss she can’t comprehend.

Set in the new future, drenched in pastels and sunshine, LONELY RECEIVER is a horror/breakup story in five parts. Written by Zac Thompson (UNDONE BY BLOOD, THE REPLACER, HER INFERNAL DESCENT, No One’s Rose, X-Men) and illustrated in color by Jen Hickman (MOTH & WHISPER, Test).

Key Selling Points

  • Psychological thriller asks tough questions about how we define ourselves in relationships and how we lose parts of ourselves to others.

  • Fantasy treatise that boldly goes where society is already headed – straight to the heart of our relationships with our phones.

  • Given the unexpected new reality that so many are living in, a horror romance about a person who lives/works by themselves and the deep relationship they develop with her phone – and the aftermath of the breakup of that relationship – is incredibly timely and relevant.

  • Confronts the fetishization of voyeurism, violence and manipulation, laying bare the psychology behind how far we’re willing to go to please ourselves in a space where nothing is off limits

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Embodied

9781949518139_40c8c

Published by A Wave Blue World

ISBN: 9781949518139
Price: $16.99
Genre: Poetry, Anthology
Ages: 16+

On Sale: May 18, 2021

Mystical, rooted, painful, joyous, and ecstatic; visions of the body, our genders, and our very identities from across the spectrum of contemporary poetry come together in this monumental intersectional feminist anthology where verse and comics unite in spectacular new ways.

Beautifully illustrated and bracingly written, EMBODIED is a memorable collaboration between cis female, trans, and non-binary poets and comics artists showcasing the power of both forms in a stunningly unique keepsake volume that will be treasured for ages.

This edition includes a study guide and a process art section.

A percentage of the proceeds will benefit International Women’s Health Coalition

Key Selling Points

  • Poetry has always been a source of inspiration in times of political turmoil and crisis, and in the past few years, it has reasserted itself in mainstream awareness, as we can see from book sales and poems that have gone viral on social media.

  • EMBODIED brings contemporary American poetry to comic book readers and comics to poetry readers in a graphic poetry anthology that showcases the relevance, urgency, and power of both genres.

  • Featuring new work on the theme of gender, identity, and the body from twenty-one of America’s premier, award-winning female, trans, and non-binary poets who have been published in places like The New York Times and The New Yorker.

  • Rather than being merely illustrated, the poems have been adapted into sequential art stories drawn, lettered, and colored by top female, trans, and non-binary artists.

  • EMBODIED has strong BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation including a Native American team. The emphasis of the book is on inclusivity and the amplification of marginalized identities at a time when those identities are most under siege.

  • Released in May, 2021 to coincide with International Women’s Health Month and a portion of the proceeds will benefit International Women’s Health Coalition.

  • Along with the release, AWBW is producing a fully animated music video of an original song by NYC recording artist Angela Elia directed by AWBW’s director of operations and media, Justin Zimmerman.

Review(s)

FOREWORD (STARRED) — Verse and visuals meet, with spectacular results, in the graphic anthology Embodied. Poetry is a visual medium, not just an oral one: the placements of words and blank spaces are often intended to appeal to the eye, and they affect the interpretation and enjoyment of a poem. This book makes full use of the opportunities for color and page design that are inherent to comic books—here, used to maintain or enhance the impact of poems. The poems and their graphic interpretations come from a lineup of award-winning women, trans, and nonbinary creators. After each artist’s adaptation, the original text-only version of the poem is included, allowing for interesting comparisons. Some adaptations preserve the original appearance of the text, while others take a different tack, splitting or combining lines for a particular effect. The art is attractive and imaginative. In “Bassam,” a metaphor is depicted as something more than just a figurative truth: “Each morning my heart is / a vulture beating its wings for scraps,” it says. 

The words are accompanied by images of a scavenger alighting on a shoulder. Images from the poems are given form and shape, sometimes with daring, unexpected approaches, and always in ways that are complementary. The variation among the art and writing styles keeps every segment fresh and exciting. A study guide forwards two stimulating questions about each poem, regarding their subjects, techniques, and interpretations—enough discussion material to fill a university-level course. Also included are rough sketches from the various adaptations—a fascinating glimpse into artistic processes.

This book bridges the gap between comics and poetry, combining the best of both worlds. With a portion of the proceeds benefiting the International Women’s Health Coalition, Embodied is a wonderful book that’s well worth engaging.

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Reckless

4

Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318519
Price: $24.99
Genre: Crime, Mystery
Ages: 16+

On Sale: December 22, 2020

Sex, drugs, and murder in 1980s Los Angeles… And the best new twist on paperback pulp heroes since The Punisher or Jack Reacher.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the modern masters of crime noir, bring us the last thing anyone expected from them – a good guy – in a bold new series of original graphic novels, with three books releasing over the next year, each a full-length story that stands on its own.

Meet Ethan Reckless: Your trouble is his business, for the right price. But when a fugitive from his student radical days reaches out for help, Ethan must face the only thing he fears… his own past.

Key Selling Points

Advanced Praise

Contributor Bio(s)

  • Perfect for longtime, devoted Brubaker/Phillips fans, handsell this to readers of PULP,THE FADE OUT, KILL OR BE KILLED, CRIMINAL, MY HEROES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUNKIES, BAD WEEKEND.

  • The first in a unique series of standalone stories that share a common protagonist-similar to Jack Reacher novels-and providing original graphic novel story + easy entry points for new readers.

  • Extensive coop and promotional advertising, banners, and social support targeting book market.
    Brubaker/Phillips boast a deep backlist, a devoted fanbase, and a solid sales track with multiple Eisner Awards and the recent breakout sales beast PULP!

  • “Imagine Redford at his peak, ambling through sun-drenched, eighties L.A. in a serpentine plot that is equal parts Long Goodbye and Point Break. No one does crime fic like Brubaker and Phillips and their collaboration has never felt more new. Explosive. Vital. And yes… reckless. I love this book.”

    – Damon Lindelof (Lost, HBO’s Watchmen)

  • “Reckless is an absolute rush: on the same level as golden age Travis McGee novels and the hardest-hitting Richard Stark stories. This one comes at you as fast as Steve McQueen in a souped-up Mustang and as hard as Charles Bronson with a baseball bat. You gotta have it.”

    – Joe Hill (Locke & Key, N0S4A2)

ED BRUBAKER is one of the most acclaimed writers in comics, winning five best writer Eisner and Harvey Awards in the last ten years. His bestselling work with Sean Phillips on CRIMINAL, INCOGNITO, FATALE, and THE FADE OUT has been translated around the world to great acclaim, and Marvel’s movies featuring his co-creation, The Winter Soldier, have all been international blockbusters. Ed lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their crazy dog, where he works in comics, film, and television, most recently on HBO’s new hit series WESTWORLD.

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Department of Truth Volume 1

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Published by Image Comics

ISBN: 9781534318335
Price: $9.99
Genre: Dystopian
Ages: 16+

On Sale:March 2, 2021

COLE TURNER has studied conspiracy theories all his life, but he isn’t prepared for what happens when he discovers that all of them are true, from the JFK Assassination to Flat Earth Theory and Reptilian Shapeshifters. One organization has been covering them up for generations. What is the deep, dark secret behind the Department of Truth?

From bestselling writer JAMES TYNION IV (BATMAN, SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN) and breakout artistMARTIN SIMMONDS (DYING IS EASY)!

Collects DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1-5.

Key Selling Points

Creator Bio(s)

  • Simmonds is known for his work on DYING IS EASY (with Joe Hill) for IDW, Punks Not Dead (with David Barnett) for Black Crown, and Friendo (with Alex Paknadel) for Vault Comics. He’s also gained mainstream exposure as a contributing artist to Marvel’s THE IMMORTAL HULK

  • Tynion IV’s name is regularly in the headlines as the writer of DC’s BATMAN as well as his work on Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, and the New York Times bestselling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. He’s also gained critical and fan acclaimed for his Boom series SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN

  • Hadsell to BATMAN and WYTCHES readers or anyone who loves conspiracy theory storylines like THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS or THE X-FILES

JAMES TYNION IV is the writer of Batman, and many other titles for DC Comics, including Detective Comics, Justice League Dark, and the New York Times best selling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy. He is the co-creator of Wynd, Something is Killing the Children, Memetic, and the GLAAD award winning series, The Woods. He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY with his partner and their nice old dog.

MARTIN SIMMONDS is a comic artist, and co-creator of Dying is Easy (with Joe Hill) for IDW, Punks Not Dead (with David Barnett) for Black Crown, and Friendo (with Alex Paknadel) for Vault Comics.He is also a contributing artist to Marvel’s The Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett, and series cover artist for Marvel’s Quicksilver: No Surrender, and Jessica Jones.Martin currently lives in Surrey, UK with his partner and their two year old son.

News/Media Coverage

‘Department of Truth’ Gets Picked Up for Screen Adaptation

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If Ur Stabby

Published by Hermes Press

ISBN: 9781613452059
Price: $24.99
Genre: Horror, Humor
Ages: 13+

On Sale: January 12, 2021

Who’s positively magical and ready for sunshine, giggles, and sliding down rainbows? Not Stabby! Meet the world’s surliest unicorn.

This stab-happy unicorn is a fan-favorite character from “Mother Goth Rhymes” (www.mothergothrhymes.com Hermes Press, Halloween 2020) and now he’s getting his own book!

“If UR Stabby” follows Stabby as he deals with life’s challenges the only way he knows how—horn first. “If UR Stabby” is a teen and adult humor book.

Author Bio(s)

KAZ WINDNESS specializes in cute and creepy characters and humor for kids of all ages.

Forever curious about what lurks in the shadows, Kaz has been drawing monsters, bats, and spiders her whole life.

Kaz studied children’s book illustration at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) where she was a valedictorian graduate in 2002. A proud SCBWI member, Kaz volunteers as the Rocky Mountain Chapter Illustrator Coordinator (2009-present). She is passionate about helping artists succeed and believes education is key. She is a professor of illustration at RMCAD (2013-present) and RMC-SCBWI illustrator mentor.

Kaz is obsessed with dogs, waffles, and all things spooky and witchy-woo-woo. She loves working in acrylic, collage, pencil, and Photoshop. There’s not much she won’t turn into an art supply. 

Kaz lives in Colorado with her English teacher husband, two sons, and a cornball Boston Terrier named Remy

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